December 1, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The title of the book in the Old Testament we refer to as Ecclesiastes comes from the Septuagint (LXX) which uses the Greek word ekklesiastes<\/em>. The word means \u201cpreacher\u201d and refers to the one who gathers an assembly of people and speaks to them. Solomon is accepted as the author of Ecclesiastes by most scholars. In the first verse he refers to himself as \u201cthe son of David, king in Jerusalem.\u201d Additionally, he says he is, \u201cking over Israel in Jerusalem\u201d (1:12), and \u201cbesides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge.\u201d (12:9).\u00a0 Solomon was known as the son of King David (1 Kings 3), the third king over the united kingdom of Israel, and for unmatched wisdom in the land (1:16). The book can be dated around 930 B.C. because it was most likely composed in Solomon\u2019s latter years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though Solomon did not initially ask for long life, wealth, or the death of his enemies, but for wisdom to govern the people of Israel, God granted both. However, even though he knew better, he acted foolishly by taking many wives and worshipping other gods. He became selfish and apathetic towards God. Ecclesiastes is autobiographical as the old king reflects on his many foolish decisions and empty pursuits. He concludes that life without God and the pursuit of pleasure is all \u201cvanity.\u201d He warns subsequent generations to avoid the same mistakes he made and that a life lived without God is futile and meaningless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n